Bernard...excerpt 1

Jack returned early the next morning. He saw Bernard on his side, grabbing large amounts of tissues. He ran into the room and sat down at his side.

“Bernard? What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking of what a shitty life I have! I’m single, I’m lonely, hell I don’t even have a cat! My job is an absolute dead end. I was just trying to tally up the bills I’m racking up and the tears started flowing! My lousy insurance probably won’t even pay for a third of this stuff. I did it to myself! It’s all my fault!”

“Hey, calm down, shhh.” Jack leaned forward and put his hand on his shoulder. Poor guy! Such a handsome fellow just needs some work. I think he needs a strong dose of love and attention. There’s something about this guy; can’t quite pinpoint it.

Bernard covered his face with his hands and sobbed deeply.

Jack tried not to let his emotions run away from him. It was always toughest to deal with the suicide watch patients. He bit his lip and attempted to paint on his professional demeanor. “Shhh, hey. Can I call the nurse or get you anything?”

Bernard’s red face finally surfaced. “No. They can’t do anything for me.”

Jack started to stand up. “Want me to leave?”

Bernard panicked and pulled him back down. “No! Please don’t go. You’re a big help to me. I just… I dunno. I’m so sad and miserable and thinking about everything that’s happened. I’ll miss you and Nancy when I leave. You two saved my life!”

Jack smiled at him and wiped off his face with a couple of tissues. “That’s better, clear those blue eyes. Bernard, it’s what we do. Every life is worth saving.”

Bernard cleared his throat and touched Jack’s hand. “I-I was wondering, if I could write you sometimes? Let you know how I am?”

“I’ll do one better than that. Why don’t we exchange phone numbers and when our schedules are good, we can meet up sometime?” He offered cheerfully.

Bernard’s eyes lit up. “Y-You’d do that?”

“Of course! You’re a very special patient, Bernard. I’d like to keep in touch with you and know how you are doing. Four times is an awful lot for one person; you need someone to keep regular tabs on your progress.” He and Bernard shared a glance together. Jack looked into the ice blue eyes which were sparked with tears and were bloodshot red. He shut his own eyes for a moment and cleared his throat. “That reminds me, Dr. Rasmus is coming by today to talk with you. This is really in his realm now; I’m just the physician who happened to be on duty that night.”

Bernard wiped off his face and managed a smile. “Okay, sounds good. I could use the help. Doc, be honest, am I the only patient who’s ever made this request?”

Jack cast a studious look. “Hmm, to be honest, no. But usually they stop first. They forget all about us here at the hospital.”

Bernard sat forward and looked thoughtfully into Jack’s eyes. “I promise you, I won’t stop. I owe you my life!”

Jack picked up the large hand and held it for a moment. “You don’t owe me anything. You just get better, okay? You’re going home tomorrow.”

Bernard wet his lips. “To be honest, I’d look forward to it if I had more of a life to go home to.”

A new voice entered the room. It was deep and masculine, laced with a medium accent. “Bernard Covington?”

“Yes.”

The short man extended his dark hand to shake his. “Hello. I’m Dr. Rasmus. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Jack glanced at the clock. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you later, Bernard.”

“Later, Doc.”

winner! Edward K

Thank you Edward! Enjoy the book!

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Questions for For the Heart of Phillip

Remember...must be a follower of this page and not already own a copy.

Alright:

1. How long has Phillip been on medication?

2. Where does Cleve say he got his muscles from?

3. What is the specialty sandwich that both Rob and Phillip order?

BONUS: What're the names of the girls that tease Phillip?

For the Heart of Phillip....excerpt 3

They chose a popular delicatessen on the south side of town. A cold front had moved through the area, plunging the temperatures into the 50’s; typical for November. Phillip got out of his car. Dressed in a Humphrey Bogart-style outfit straight out of the 1940’s, he wore a three-piece black suit, complete with pocket watch and fedora hat. As Robert parked his car, he caught sight of the fashionable man. Their eyes reacquainted the two men in a momentary gaze. Robert was so distracted by the sight of Phillip he tripped on the curb, almost falling. While he was always attracted to Phillip, the sight of the buff, plain-clothed cop being his eccentric self brought back his strong feelings for the man.

Phillip met Robert at the deli entrance, marveling at the aide’s appearance. He was dressed in a navy pinstriped suit hugging all the right places and his once boldly-highlighted hair had been restored to its original brown. The length hadn’t changed though, still down to his chin. Robert smiled and they strode quickly into each other’s open, waiting arms. Sharing their embrace, both men relaxed their stature. It seemed like old times.

“You look amazing Phil! Those classic looks have always looked wonderful on you. And check out your fine physique! How much weight did you lose?”

Phillip smiled. “Over 40 pounds. After I passed the exam to be a cop, I wanted to keep it off.” Eager to shift the focus away from his appearance, he poked his friend on the shoulder. “You look extremely important, Robert. It looks like being a politician agrees with you.”

The young aide grinned. His eyes traveled over Phillip’s body, until his ornate wedding band caught his eye in the sunlight. His demeanor quickly changed. “Yeah, it does.” His stomach growled loudly. “Hey, I’m starving; let’s eat.”

Phillip nodded. “Lead the way.”

The old-style deli, Weissbratten’s, had been on the corner of Randolph and Main for over 75 years. The business was now on their fourth generation of operation. The neighborhood had seen enormous change over the life of the business; but the popularity had not waned. The lunch crowd was still very smitten with the restaurant’s fare. The specialty of the house was the Reuben Sandwich, something both men had always enjoyed immensely.

Phillip flipped open his wallet. “Here, let me get that for you.”

Robert smiled politely. “No, it’s alright. I’ve got money.”

“Come on, I owe you at least a sandwich.” Phillip pleaded.

Robert looked to his friend and then to the person at the counter, and paid for his sandwich. “It’s ok. I can take care of it myself.”

They scanned the deli’s interior in search of a place to sit, but there were no tables available. Despite the weather, the few tables outside were also occupied.

“Hey, Rob, let’s sit in my car. There's nowhere else to sit. And it’s still warm from the heater.”

Robert hesitated for a moment. He lost himself in thought as his mind filled with scenarios.

“Rob?”

“What…I’m sorry, what were you asking me?”

Noticing that Robert was very distracted, Phillip began to lose his nerve. “I asked, if you wanted to eat lunch in the car.”

“Yes, of course.” Robert stammered.

They walked to the Chevy Monte Carlo and entered. Sitting in silence for the first few minutes, they concentrated on their delectable sandwiches. Robert was ravenous, gulping his down in less than five minutes time.

“Damn, hungry?”

“Sorry, I didn’t have time for breakfast. Been busy.”

“Did you even taste it?”

“A little. Maybe I could enter a food contest, I can really wolf ‘em down.”

For the Heart of Phillip....excerpt 2

Two weeks after the incident, Robert immersed himself in a project which involved hours of meticulous research. He welcomed the diversion and embraced it. He’d logged many hours at the library.

The winter weather was not being helpful, however, since he had to make frequent walks to the library, on the other side of campus. There was one good thing about the weather, though. His walks to the library gave him plenty of time to regroup and focus on his approaching graduation.

Adjacent to the library’s Ancient History section, Robert returned each day to a table he had claimed as his spot. Unloading his backpack, he would stretch and set to work.

This particular day, the weather had decided to throw a curveball and warmed to nearly 50 degrees. Robert shed his heavy parka and chose a lighter jacket for his jaunt. After two hours of reading and writing, Robert set down his pen and rubbed his eyes. While his face was covered by his hand for a moment, another voice broke his silence.

“Pardon me, mate, are you alright?”

Robert quickly recovered and looked the stranger up and down. He was surprised that the body did not match the British or Australian voice. In front of him stood a rough-looking young man with a dark tan, blond-dyed hair in a ponytail, and lots of tattoos. He wore camouflage pants, a white tank top, and scuffed black military books.

“What? Sorry, I was just taking a break from reading. I’m fine, thanks.”

“Anytime. You mind if I sit here?” the newcomer asked, pointing to a seat a few chairs away from his. “I’ve got a lot of research to do, myself.”

Robert cocked his head in interest. “Oh, what on?”

The student laughed and pointed to the sign indicating the section they were seated in. “On Ancient History.”

“Me, too.” Robert smiled. “You aren’t in Foster’s class, by chance?”

The young man stuck out his long, tan arm across the table. “Sure am. I’m Cleve Wilmington. What’s your name?”

Robert shook his hand. “Robert Marshall. Most people call me Rob, though. Nice to meet ya.”

“Same here. What year are you?”

“I’m a senior, you?”

“Same. I’ve seen you in class. Near the front, right?”

Robert nodded. “Yup, total geek. I need to sit close so I can hear him better. I guess you sit near the back, I hadn’t seen you before. I would’ve remembered.”

Cleve smiled as Robert blushed. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

“No problem at all. Hey, the library frowns on all this gabbin’. How about we go warm up with a coffee at the student center?”

Robert smiled and closed his book. “You read my mind. Let’s bolt.”

They left the library together and walked in the melting snow over to the student center café. Coffee turned into dinner, which Cleve insisted on buying. Robert took the opportunity to better study his companion’s features. Cleve was 5’11” and had mocha brown eyes. His build was quite muscular. “You must work out a lot, to get those muscles.”

Cleve looked at his arms. “Oh, these? They’re rented. Got ‘em from my brother before I left home.”

“Where is home for you?”

“London. I’ve got dual citizenship, though, since the parents are from both places.”

“Sounds pretty cool to me. I have enough fun being from just one country!”

They laughed together and their hands brushed up against one another’s. Cleve shot him a look and coyly ran his fingers over Robert’s pale knuckles.

“You got a roommate?”

“No, I’m single. Oh, wait. Yes, I have a housemate who never seems to leave the house.” Robert stopped blabbering. “Do you?”

“No. I’ve got my own dorm room, wanna go see it?”

Robert genuinely smiled and replied with confidence, “Yeah, definitely.”

For the Heart of Phillip....excerpt 1

“Damn it’s hot out,” 12-year-old Phillip Marnier said to himself walking outside for the first time that Sunday. Opting for a heavyweight blue and white football jersey and long, baggy blue jeans, he was hardly dressed for the 94 degree weather. It was the first time he’d left the house that Saturday. Phillip didn’t want to leave, but his mother, Dani, had insisted he “get some fresh air”. She hated that he spent most of his days in his room, alone, and Phillip wondered how a hot, humid summer day was considered helpful. He looked around, took a deep breath, and grimaced. The sticky air stung his nostrils and he sneezed.

“Why did she make me go outside,” he groused. As soon as he walked forward a few steps, finally leaving the front porch, Phillip heard an incessant buzzing sound near his face. His eyes locked on to a bumblebee hovering near his right arm. He shrieked and swatted at it wildly. Ducking and dodging as well as he could, Phillip finally ran away from the flower patch where the bee had been. A final check around the area and he was convinced it was gone. Whew! I hate bugs, he thought to himself.

Phillip’s ears perked up again. He swore he heard laughing and, suspiciously, he looked around. Across the street, by the oak tree in front of the old Snyder house, were two girls on their bikes, pointing and staring at him. He knew them from school. The older one was Marla Simpson, the meanest girl in the neighborhood. She was 13, skinny as a rail, and had white blond hair. She was dressed in a very provocative outfit for someone of her age; micro-short white shorts and a white halter top. Phillip didn’t find her at all attractive and wished she’d cover up. Her friend was only 10 and dressed in a short, rainbow-colored dress. Phillip recognized her as Rachel Tucker, one of the popular girls at school. Alone, either of the girls was trouble, but together, they were unbearable. They crossed the street with their bikes and stopped right in front of his house. Phillip turned to go back inside, but the girls were too quick for him.

“Poor fatty Phillip, he’s afraid of bees!” Marla jibed in the most condescending tone he’d ever heard. She whispered something to Rachel and they both pretended to gag at the sight of him, and took off on their bikes.

Phillip tried to brush them off, but couldn’t. He watched them until they were out of sight. “Bitches,” he said out loud; too late. He felt tears behind his light blue eyes, but dared not let them escape. Turning on his heel, Phillip ran up the porch stairs, and into his house. The hot, humid air followed him into the kitchen and caught his mother’s attention. She turned away from her cooking and gave him a stern look.

“Phillip! I told you to get some fresh air!”

The teen tried to gather himself together, but found it difficult. “I tried to, but I almost got stung by a bumblebee out there, and that Marla girl was out there with her friend. I just wasn’t meant to be an outdoor person, Mom. I’m sorry.”

Dani turned around and straightened her ankle-length bright pink dress. She pursed her matching painted lips and rolled her sky blue eyes. Her ornamental fingernails reached for a tendril of her curly brown hair to twirl, a clear sign she was agitated. This wasn’t the first time they’d had this argument. Giving him a glare, she pitched her hair back into place and put her hands on her low hips. She walked over and tilted her head up to look her son in the eye. Dani was a petite 5’5” to her son’s towering height of 6’0”.

With a maternal once-over of her son, Dani saw how just upset he was and understood his emotional state. She brushed his chubby, pale cheek with her fingers.

“All right, you get off this time, but the next time it’s a beautiful day, you are getting some natural Vitamin D, understand? You can’t keep hiding like this. The doctor said-”

Phillip interrupted. “Dr. Melville said that I’m bipolar and an isolationist! How can I fight what I am, Mom?”

Dani scowled and pointed a painted nail at him. “Don’t cut me off like that, young man. You’re still only 12 years old! You may be the size of a man, but you’re far from grown. Have you been taking your Prozac?”

Phillip groaned. “Yes, I’ve been taking it. It doesn’t really help me anymore. I’ve been on it since I was 10. I think I’m gonna need something a lot stronger, especially dealing with middle school.”

His mother put her hands on his broad shoulders. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am. I wish there was more we could do for you. We’ve been dealing with this for so long. Dr. Melville told us a long time ago it would get worse for you around this age. I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m at a loss! Your dad and I love you so much, but I think we need to get a bit more drastic with your treatments.”

Phillip’s eyes widened. “Drastic? How? Shock therapy?”

Dani twisted her lip. “No, Mr. Funny man, but maybe have you join a club or a team, or something.”

Phillip backed away from her. “How many times have I told you I’m no good at sports?” he said in an exasperated tone. “I sucked at soccer and Little League, swimming, everything! Please don’t make me join another team now; they’ll just laugh at me again. Please, Mom?” His large, pale blue eyes looked into hers. “Don’t make me do it, I can’t, I just can’t!” he begged. They both fell silent.

Dani’s face flushed for a moment and a few tears escaped. She reached out for her son and took him in her tiny arms. They hugged for a long moment. Her hair tickled his nose. He had to turn and spit a bit.

“Geez, mom, back off on the hairspray a bit, huh?” he said jokingly.

They laughed together.

“Ha ha. Ok, my dear son, I won’t force you on to any teams. But you’ve got to do something soon! You have no friends at all outside this house. I want you to really try to find a friend. Can you do that at least?”

Phillip sighed. “I guess so. Most of the kids just look at me and laugh though; they don’t even give me a chance to talk. I sit alone at lunch or go outside and hide by a tree. Not that I could hide much, mind ya.” He ran his hand over his bulging abdomen. “I look like a pregnant man. I wish that would go away. I wanna grow up and be someone people have to listen to, like a cop or something.”

Dani chuckled. “Well, you could exercise, and before you say it, I don’t mean outside. I mean in here. Go down to the basement and do a workout tape or something. We could get you a treadmill or exercise bike, too. I’ll even keep your brother and sister out of your hair.”

He curled his lip in thought. “That could work, I suppose. I’ll work on it.”

“Good boy.” Dani tousled his hair and kissed his cheek. “Ok, I know it’s killing you to be here. Go on back to your room and play those games you love so much.”

Phillip smiled. “Thanks, mom!” he took off down the hall to his room. Dani rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Kids!”